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Headline Roundup February 17th, 2025

Are Trump and Musk On the Same Page?

Summary from the AllSides News Team

President Donald Trump and DOGE chief Elon Musk said the media was trying to drive a wedge between them by claiming dissension among Trump supporters.

Key Details: While Musk has become a target of Democratic attacks, Republicans on Capitol Hill are divided over their support of Musk. Some Republican Senators worry about the loss of federal jobs that employ individuals in their home states, while many Americans are having difficulty making ends meet.

Key Quotes: “You know, they said, ‘We have breaking news. Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk. President Musk will be attending a cabinet meeting tonight at 8:00,’” Trump joked. Wired's Jake Lahut said, “I still don’t have a clear sense of the factions at play here, but it’s happening. I wouldn’t call it a full-blown freak-out quite yet, but the folks I talked to have all been loyal to Trump and have been on the [Trump] train since before January 6, and it takes quite a lot to rattle or surprise these people.

For Context: In January, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles vowed to block any troublemakers from the West Wing and that she would not tolerate anyone trying to work solo.

How the Media Covered it: The New York Post (Lean Right bias) reported that Trump told Musk that he believes the public can see through what the media is trying to do. The New Republic (Left) reported that people closest to Trump are turning to Wiles to intervene in order to reign in Musk. The topic was covered more by sources on the left than by sources on the right.

Featured Coverage of this Story

Trump, Musk accuse media, pundits of ‘trying to drive us apart’ in preview of Sean Hannity interview
Trump, Musk accuse media, pundits of ‘trying to drive us apart’ in preview of Sean Hannity interview

Reuters

Analysis

President Trump and billionaire DOGE chief Elon Musk accused the media and pundits on Friday of trying to create tension between them in an effort to drive them apart.

“They want a divorce. They want you two to start hating each other,” Fox News host Sean Hannity told Trump and Musk in a clip from a lengthier interview that will air next week.

Trump, 78, agreed with the Fox News host and revealed that Musk had already warned him about the media’s effort to sow discord.

Donald Trump and Elon...

Open on New York Post (News)
Elon Musk Is Driving Trumpworld Absolutely Insane
Opinion

Even the people closest to Donald Trump are suffering under Elon Musk’s sudden takeover of the executive branch, and they’re turning to an unexpected savior to intervene: White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.

In an interview with MSNBC’s Ali Vitali, Wired’s Jake Lahut revealed Friday that a slew of longtime Trump loyalists have turned to the so-called “ice maiden” to liberate the administration from Musk’s influence.

“You spoke to half a dozen Trump loyalists, Republican aides, and advisers inside and around the administration,” Vitali started. “I think many of them,...

Open on New Republic
GOP lawmakers divided on Musk, seen by some as a liability
Analysis

Republicans on Capitol Hill are divided over tech billionaire Elon Musk being the public face of President Trump’s aggressive bid to shrink the government, with some souring on Musk’s prominent role as he increasingly has become a target of Democratic attacks.

Several GOP senators worry that having an unelected billionaire crow about slashing federal jobs, which happen to employ many people in their home states, is not a good look when inflation remains a major problem and many Americans are having trouble making ends meet.

Some Republicans, such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), have...

Open on The Hill

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